when do you walk away

[RockiesRN3, BSN, RN]

Do you ever have regrets about this field? Specifically for new nurses, how different is what they taught you in school from your first year? If what is happening during that year was a precursor to a lifetime of that would you stay?

For the mid level or seasoned nurses do you ever feel like leaving this field for good? What would you do for peace of mind?

Thanks.

[cm715]

Hi there, I had the same thoughts this past year, like maybe ill become a flight attendant or work on the railroad.....I felt like I just wanted out , after all the negativity involved. I have been in healthcare for almost 20 years first as an EMT, then an LPN and served in the military as a hospital Corpsman deploying overseas with the Marine Corps, I got my RN in 2009 and my BSN last year, it has been a long road with its ups and downs, more recently things have hit an all time low. I noticed a trend that began with a new ADN that came from a large company that has nearly taken over long island. I decided to leave this place for a new position in the hopes that I would get away from the way the nurses were being treated, I had been there 6 years, thought the grass had to be greener, well no its not. It seems to be a lot of the same and worse. I have had 2 very bad experiences in the last year with anything from bullying to basically lying because they wanted to cover their ass. I will not become this nurse, I said to myself I will continue to find a place where the nurses are respected and their concerns are not ignored and where the patients are treated with excellence and the nurses actually can accomplish this in a safe manner, with that said I had to really seriously take a good look at myself because despite the bad experience and knowing the situation wasn't right for me, I still felt like a failure. Overall the trend in nursing is to put more responsibility on the nurse deflecting it from the hospital, cutting staff to a minimum, with this also comes to no visiting hours, so families are at the bedside, needing more staff input, and physicians no longer talk to the nurses, they come in look at the patient and leave. Its not the same, I know this because Ive had experiences with places that had a fair and just culture and EVERYONE worked as a team. The nurse managers/nursing administration were advocates for the nursing staff and the profession. These large conglomerations of hospitals just want us to check boxes and shut our mouths and allow people to speak to us like we are toddlers, as if you wanted to miss crossing that t ? I find these places are full of people driven by ego without regard for co-workers or patients for that matter.

SOOO with all of that said, I still love being a nurse and have recently found a place that is really quite wonderful, its actually has the one of the best patient satisfaction scores in the country. Its a good fit for me. So carry on !!, find your place there is a lot of options out there, but don't stay at a place with bad management or bad culture. I am a firm believer that the truth comes out in the end and that there are so many miserable hospital employees, doctors/nurses/pas that patient care/safety will be affected and eventually, the hospitals will have to change the way they treat people. I feel the department of labor should be notified of some of these practices.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I do not have regrets about entering the nursing profession. Nursing has helped facilitate the professional and personal growth that I very much needed. After nearly 11 years as a nurse, I am far more self-aware as a person than ever.

However, I began to despise floor nursing with a fiery passion. I had reached the verge of burnout last year when a close friend introduced me to a wondrous opportunity. The timing was perfect.

I now work from home. My stress level is the lowest it has been in a number of years. By sheer virtue of working this current job, my time in the nursing profession will be prolonged because I now have a break from the bedside.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Nursing school does not teach you how to be a nurse. That comes gradually by practicing the profession.

I felt like quitting ( it's not leaving, it's quitting) many times over the years. I refused to give up on the time and money I spent on my education, and most of all.. on myself.

Best wishes, it can be done.

[caliotter3]

It did not take long to see that I had made a big mistake by going back to nursing as a second career. Nothing can make up for the predicaments encountered when one is unemployed, or underemployed, more than adequately employed. Had anyone given a hint at the time of the career change, I would have made the decision to secure my own well-being ahead of pursuing 'dreams'. It is no picnic being at the age of retirement but in a hole, primarily caused by one's inopportune career choice that could have been avoided.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I hated nursing in my first year, absolutely hated it. I dreamed of a 9-5 job, Monday through Friday with no working Christmas. I even went and got an MBA. To my very great surprise, when it came time to hunt for that next job with my MBA in hand, I realized that I loved nursing, loved the CCU and no longer wanted to leave.

I'm leaving nursing soon to be a full time boat bum. I have mixed feelings about the whole retirement thing, but my husband wants to travel and we can't do that when I'm still employed.